They have recieved several Gospel Music Association Dove Awards throughout their career. Their first first was "Rap/Hip Hop Song" for "Alcoholic Plagiarism", from Factors of the Seven. The next year they took the same award for "They All Fall Down", from Grammatical Revolution. In 2003 The Art Of Translation won the award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album", and the following year their song "Believe" from the same album took "Rap/Hip Hop Song". They also shared in the "Special Event Album" that year, for their contribution to !Hero The Rock Opera.
Album list:
1. Mental Releases
2. Factors of the Seven
3. Grammatical Revolution in the Spirit
4. Art of Translation
5. Dichotomy A
6. Dichotomy B
7. Art of Transformation (remix album of Translation)
8. 7 (best of album)
9. Redemption
10. The Greatest Hits
11. Reiterate
12. Quarantine
Mirage
Grits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears,
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears.
Nah, girl, chill, it ain't even like that,
I know them other brothers front, and know they mode as a fact,
I used to be like that, a long time ago,
Sunday-school Mac pushing up on every sister,
Intact at the choir shows, dripping silk clothes like a pimp,
With gold chains dangling, Polo scents strangling,
A wolf in sheep's clothing, in the mould of crooked preachers,
Using pick up likes like, "Let me touch ya, and agree with ya",
On subject matters in life you found to be your weaknesses,
In ignorance revealed, I used them as my strength,
On occasion, in my game, I speak the truth to get closer to you,
Abusing trust from desires of lust,
So watch your back sisters, don't be victims, falling like prey,
Caught in traps from Jack the Ripper, crosses boundaries you lay,
Is his display is not the essence, that of Christ in your sight, he may very well be seduction,
Your destruction in life.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears,
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears.
Nothing's real anymore; what's everything fake for?
It makes more doubt, engulf the stance we chose to take,
Sliding, slithering snakes raise the stakes, (mirage)
Time for Grits to make the ground quake.
Falsehoods, deceptions, wool pulled over eyes,
Sunday morning - dazed and hypnotised by facades and lies,
Corruption breeding hounds of hell,
Bounds and spells, disastrous endings,
You wolf in sheep's pretending, offending,
I find your accolades to be gut-wrenching,
Ripping me inside, into the life-style tribe,
I'm hitting on the flimsy-handed, limp-wristed,
Complicating life from simplistic,
Not lashing out to be sadistic, but my bible totally contradicts your kind of sickness,
My Lord destroyed whole cities for your type of wickedness,
You people are getting me stressed with your best-dressed contest,
Sporting brooches, giving it up like robbed stage-coaches,
Gaining notoriety, Christian society not fly to me,
I know what's going on, opposite of what you try to be,
People are talking, and what you do reflects on all of us,
"A hypocritical citadel" is what they're calling all of us.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears,
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears.
Nothing's real anymore; what's everything fake for?
It makes more doubt, engulf the stance we chose to take,
Sliding, slithering snakes raise the stakes.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears,
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Candy to the eye disappears.
In "Mirage," Grits explores the theme of deception and the risk of falling prey to false appearances. The song starts by describing a mirage, a phenomenon where something appears to be real from afar but disappears upon closer examination. This sets the tone for the rest of the song where the lyrics warn against trusting appearances and emphasizes the importance of being cautious.
The second verse talks about the dangers of falling for fake appearances in relationships, particularly from men who pretend to be something they are not in order to gain trust and access to women's vulnerabilities. The lyrics caution women to be careful and not become victims to manipulative men who might abuse their trust and desires for their own gain.
In the last verse, the song addresses the broader societal issue of deception and falsehoods in the world, particularly within the Christian community. The lyrics criticize those who put up facades and pretend to be righteous but are actually corrupt and false. The song urges people to be true to themselves and their faith, to not get caught up in appearances and to always stay vigilant.
Overall, "Mirage" is a powerful warning against the dangers of false appearances, encouraging listeners to beware of deception and to stay true to themselves and their beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Things may seem real, but they could be an illusion that disappears.
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Despite not being real, there's a desire for what is seen to be beautiful and appealing.
Far off it looks real, (a mirage)
Even from a distance, what is seen could be an illusion.
Candy to the eye disappears,
Something that is visually appealing could be a mirage and disappear.
Nah, girl, chill, it ain't even like that,
Dismissing advances or attempts to deceive someone.
Falsehoods, deceptions, wool pulled over eyes,
Lies and false appearances are covering up what's true.
Nothing's real anymore; what's everything fake for?
Questioning the authenticity of what is being presented.
Sliding, slithering snakes raise the stakes, (mirage)
Deceivers continue to deceive and make the situation worse.
My Lord destroyed whole cities for your type of wickedness,
Referencing biblical stories to make a point about the severity of misleading others.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Things may seem real, but they could be an illusion that disappears.
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Despite not being real, there's a desire for what is seen to be beautiful and appealing.
Sporting brooches, giving it up like robbed stage-coaches,
Referencing superficial displays of wealth and abundance, like treasures being stolen or shown off.
Nothing's real anymore; what's everything fake for?
Questioning the authenticity of what is being presented.
Sliding, slithering snakes raise the stakes.
Deceivers continue to deceive and make the situation worse.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Things may seem real, but they could be an illusion that disappears.
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Despite not being real, there's a desire for what is seen to be beautiful and appealing.
Candy to the eye disappears,
Something that is visually appealing could be a mirage and disappear.
First you see it, then you don't, (a mirage)
Things may seem real, but they could be an illusion that disappears.
Hoping, when I get up close, it's a colourful collage,
Despite not being real, there's a desire for what is seen to be beautiful and appealing.
Candy to the eye disappears.
Something that is visually appealing could be a mirage and disappear.
Contributed by Evelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Soni
One of the albums of childhood. Thankful for these pioneers of Christian hip-hop.
Ronald James
Man it may be old but its better than the nonsense being played today
DJ Robinson
ooooohhhhh ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my Favs!!!!
Jaturong Boonkungwan
Me too love this song!
TheAmazing Jon
Your dad was here too